Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-25

master General Villas. These were even
embodied in the postoflice regulations, in
the following shape:
Special Notice.
PosToFfICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE orr
| THE POSTMASTER- G En- EGiAT, WASH
1NGTON, ID. c. March 81, 1888
Railway postal erks who have become elf
Gent and valuable men, against whom no just
complaint OF neglect. ina tcntion. or want of
ildenty, honesty or efficiency can be br ilght
Il ID who have not turned their attention to
poll zeal labors dur ng tn, in service. need
! have no fear of being disturbed so long as
they continue to render meritorious and faith
full service.
wN.F Villas,
Postmaster-Genera.
Any man would say that under this
notice postal clerk as honest, capable
faithful and free from imputaton of the
charge of offensive partisanship rs Mr..
Sherman, would be tolerably secure in
his place.
What is his record He was appointed
nearly five years ago, upon very strong
recommendation bearing the names of his
J townsman, Judge w. II. Walker Of Lud-
low, of Judges Powers and Taft of the Su-
preme Court, eX-Governors John Gregory
Smith, George w. Hendee, Roswell Farm
|
stow, Hon. J. NJ. Tyler, NJ c.; Hon. w.
w. Grout, NJ c.. Hon. John A. Page,
State Treasurer Hon. George Nichols,
Secretary of State, Hon. f. H. Powell,
State Auditor, and other gentlemen of the
highest standing in Vermont. How he
has justified the confidence of these gen
tlemen in his ability and fidelity, may be
| judged from the following facts During
the time he has held his office, he has
passed thirteen examinations, five of
which were on Vermont, covering the
despatch of mail matter to every office in
the State four on New Hampshire and
four on Massachusetts, -the last of them
being only week before his removal. In
| these thirteen examinations an aggregate
| of 715S postOffices was disposed of and
not single mistake was made by him.
| We have seen the examination papers,
and his record is an unbroken one OF 100
per cent, representing perfection. In dis
tributing mail matter of course time is
second only to accuracy. The record shows
that not one of Mr.. Sherman's examina-
tions occupied more than forty minutes,
which is very quick work, while one on
Massachusetts, with 795 postoflices, took
|
with 494 offices only II minutes, and one on
Vermont. with 5l5 offices, only IA minutes
This is remarkable record and probably
has been rarely equalled in the postal ser
vice.
Mr. Sherman's record of actual work
in the car while second clerk
was exceedingly creditable, and last
April he was promoted to the charge
of the car. Since this promotion, he has
not been charged with single error in
distribution. Mr.. Sherman was not only
a valuable official; but he is an intelligent
gentleman, of quiet and orderly tastes,
and courteous manners. He is decided
republican but not a noisy one nor has he
| in the language of Mr.. Vilas's notice,
turned his attention to political labors'
He was suddenly informed, ten days ago,
that his services were no longer needed,
and that his successor had been appoint
ed. Inquiry was thereupon made by one
of the Representatives of Vermont at
the Office of the General Superintendent
of the railway mail service in Washing
ton, rs to what the charges were on which
Mr.. Sherman was removed. He was in
formed that they were that he twas very
do extra work and that a change was re-
commended by the division superintend-
ent, for the good of the service
1t will seem to fair-mnded men that
some opportunity should have been af-
forded Mr.. Sherman to meet these charges (;
but no such opportunity was given him.
The charges are, as we are assured and be.
lieve, wholly false. Mr.. Sherman, as his
examinations show, is capable of very
rapid work; and in point of fact as he
informs us, no complaint of slowness or of
carrying by matter has been brought to
his knowledge or could be truthfully
brought against him. His work has been
done and well done within the necessary
limit of time. That he refused to do eX-
ira work is most distinctly false The
only matter to which this can refer was
this. He was required to do some extra
duty at Christmas time. He was not well
at the time, and therefore not able to do
, it himself; but he at once got compe-
tent man by telegraph to do the extra
work, paying him for the work, with
out expense to the department. This
was not refusing to do extra
, work" That a democratic dvi-
sion superintendent recommended the
) change is doubtless so; but he did not
recommend it "for the good of the ser
e :" but because he and the bosses
wanted the place for democrat.
r These facts carry their own comment. 1t
2 would be doing Mr.. Vilas's especial notice.
TO postal clerks too.much honor to call it a
t dead letter. 1t was and is sham and
fraud, In this State, at least, it is per
= fectly transparent fraud. It's only effect
e is to put experienced and valuable clerks
under the needless obloquy of an appa
< rent removal for cause, when the sole
: cause of their removal is that some hun
cry democrats want their places 1t will